The Daily News Summary will take a break over summer, returning in August to report on this year's exam results. Normal service will resume at the start of term in September.

From everyone at the Independent Schools Council, we hope you all have a restful summer break, and send our best wishes to all pupils awaiting their results.

Over 100 primary schools in Hampshire have agreed to ban smartphones by early next year, in the largest collective action yet by the Smartphone Free Childhood movement. The group says 109 schools are already committed, with 31 more expected to join by September 2026, bringing the total to 140. Similar pledges have been made in areas including St Albans and Enfield. The initiative has been established amid growing concerns about the negative effects of smartphones and social media on children's mental health. By Faye Barker, ITV News.

In a letter to The Times, Ben Horan, headmaster of Prior Park College, says that while it is encouraging to see ministers seeking to address the issue of boys' underperformance in school, the addition of more male mentors will not fix the "underlying issue behind today’s crisis in masculinity". Highlighting "seismic" changes to the traditional family structure, Mr Horan writes: "Cosmetic efforts to mask the symptoms with mentors and male teachers in schools cannot hide the fact that more men need to step up and parent boys effectively." The letter appears halfway down the page.

Health secretary Wes Streeting has sought to reassure Labour MPs amid concerns that upcoming reform of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system could undermine the rights of disabled children receiving extra support in schools. Mr Streeting said there is "a lot of unnecessary worry out there" and emphasised that he wants services for children with special needs to "get better, not worse". His comments come as figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats through a Freedom of Information request reveal the soaring cost of transporting children with SEND to suitable schools. In some cases, taxi transport for a single pupil has exceeded £100,000 per year. Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, is arguing in favour of reform that would improve mainstream schools so that fewer children opt to travel long distances, as well as more special schools. By Chris Smyth, The Times. 

Abolishing education, health and care plans (EHCPs) is a highly provocative proposal, warns Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, who writes in Tes outlining the steps government must take to restore trust in its plans to reform SEND support. "Removing legal protections from children for provision specified following an assessment of their needs is unthinkable. It is not morally defensible and would almost certainly result in a legal challenge," says Mr Di’Iasio.

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